Author: Sade McNichols-Thomas

During this week we were tasked with shortening down stick footage films to a concise 3 minutes. I tried to make a coherence out of the film Royal road, inserting the motif of the commander staring at the screen which creates a sense of discomfort.

I think the challenge came with choosing important sections of the film an creating a new narrative. This allowed for us to be more creative with the limited material we had in front of us.

https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/119573

 

FILM: https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/119541

For my assessment I went with finding myself in London however I feel like the overall theme tapped into identity and finding yourself as well. When first starting this project, I became interested in the technique to duplicate oneself in one frame. Although I didn’t manage to attempt that in the final film the idea of having two versions of myself remained and sparked the idea of having a conversation between a younger version of myself and me now, reflecting on my achievements and growth as a person. I started the process by editing together my own music using SYML’s ‘I Wanted to Leave’ and Lana Del Ray’s ‘Paris, Texas’. The former holds a lot of sentimental value to me as it was something I revisited in hard times and the latter poetically reflects the heart linking themes of healing, self-acceptance and introspection, I took it as a song about finding oneself as I have had to do with my relocation to London.

With editing the two songs I wished to keep most of the instrumental as it invokes a sense of stillness. It’s neither happy or sad and personally makes me feel almost nostalgic. This peaceful void is what I wanted to explore as I feel very mature and feel a need to mould myself based on the expectations one has for me now particularly as an adult and a student at UCL, but I also miss the chaos and nonchalance of childhood and yearn for the mindset I used to have sort of negated of responsibility.

One of the main effects I used was child-like drawings across the entire film. It was my way of representing my younger self in a play like manner. I also physically showcased her I an orange hoodie as the colour orange can be associated with youthfulness and warmth. There is this constant contrast between warm comforting tones and sharp cold ones representing the dichotomy that a young adult experiences as they try to navigate the world. The drawings also help create the illusion that I’m having a conversation with younger me, as she cannot talk, she is expressed through post its and other scribbles as it was very common when I was younger to write in multiple diaries and decorate them.

For the editing style, although not intentional, I feel resembles that of a YouTube blog. I wish I used more wide shots, but I feel that would come if I had a tripod available, since most of the shots were filmed on my phone. Though will the use of closer shots I kept a sense of intimacy with the audience that brings them into my world and possibility makes it easier for them to share a similar sentiment to me in this film. I think despite the lack of equipment I managed to keep the viewing experience interesting and tried a few other angles to keep interest as I realise there is no dialogue or action that would have a viewer connected

The two main editing aspects I tried to assimilate from the module was the use of text and voiceover. To situate the idea that I’m almost omnipresent and pertain more knowledge due to having experienced more in life. Overall, I’m happy with the film but feel there is definitely a few things I could approve on, but my goal and the feeling I wished to evoke succeeded so I’m happy.

https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/117337

https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/117336

https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/117338

Three videos came about by accident. In an attempt to create something out of a mistake. I used contrasting and dark lighting to give the spilled soy sauce a dark horror feel, also utilising shadow and stark light to suggest a uncomfortable feeling.

https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/117339

I liked the soft colour and the reflected colours of my books on the wall

https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/117341

I created a moving shot on my journey back home. pulling the Suitcase past a street light I could capture the change of light on a object due to position as well as see the affect of similar colouring as the shot has a very Orange/yellow feel, which connotes to autumn and possibly a somber feeling

In the early morning I went to Southbank Skatepark – it was very deserted and allowed for me to go around and take shots highlighting the graffiti art and the structure of the place.

VIDEO 1 – https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/115318

• The shot is very dark, added gain would be better.

VIDEO 2 – https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/115319

• Showcases the texture of the walls and colour.
• possibly could of had a wider shot.
• could be nice to have a subject positioned on the other wall towards the left.

VIDEO 3 – https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/115320

• Wide shot of the park – feels graining so more lighting may possibly make it clearer.

VIDEO 4 – https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/115321

• I like the movement of the shot and general focus on the skateboard rather than the guy.
• lighting feels very cool.
• would prefer and “on level” shot with the skateboard and have it roll into view.

VIDEO 5 – https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/115322

• lighting of the shot feels ominous
• I like the mix of colour and darkness

VIDEO 6 –https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/115323 

• between a wooden ramp and captures a limited view.
• focus is set on the wood so may be nice next time to have the view on the background.

VIDEO 7 – https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/115324

• Needs to be shot with a tripod or on a box to be more stable.

VIDEO 8 – https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/115325

• Decrease on gain to capture the writing on the light but limited the background.
• possibly increase the shutter speed rather than decreasing the gain.

VIDEO 9 – https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/115326

• needs to be more steady.
• should have the selection mirror the wall.

VIDEO 10 – https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/115327

• gives the feel of the space – should have recorded more individual quotes on the walls.

VIDEO 11 – https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Play/115328

• like the use of movement and lighting.

Overall some of the shots feel too dark, but the overall mood feels dark. It feels cold due to it being between the hours of 7-9am.